Recess Performance Club

Couldn’t be prouder of Melissa, Nicolle, and all of our Recess athletes who competed this weekend—and those with races still ahead.

What you see on race day is only a small piece of the story.

The real story is the alarm clock that goes off before sunrise. The workouts squeezed between work and family. The days you show up when motivation is nowhere to be found. The countless small decisions that nobody sees.

That’s what makes me proud.

Not the finish times. Not the medals. The commitment.

Watching so many members step up and do hard things is a reminder that confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build through keeping promises to yourself over and over again.

I wasn’t able to race today because of a torn calf. More on that later.

For now, the spotlight belongs to everyone who had the courage to put themselves on the starting line.

Keep showing up.
Keep doing the work.

The race is just the celebration of what you’ve already earned.

Proud coach. Proud husband. Proud friend.

- Eric

Strength is built here.

Not with random workouts. With progressions, coaching, and meeting people where they are.

For some, it starts with pulldowns.
Then rack chins.
Then pull-ups.

One rep becomes two. Two becomes ten.

Pull-ups are one of our key strength KPI’s because they represent more than upper body strength. They represent consistency, patience, and earning something most people avoid.

Wherever you start, we’ll take you to your potential—and beyond.

Thick thighs save lives.

Research backs it—more muscle on your legs, especially your quads, is directly tied to longevity, resilience, and staying powerful as you age.

Kettlebell squats (goblet or double rack) are a staple. Simple. Brutal. Effective.

Quiet consistency beats loud motivation.

EarnIt DailyHabits MindsetShift StayHard ConsistencyWins SelfMastery QuietWork ProgressOverPerfection BuiltNotBorn KeepGoing

BEYOND WALL BALLS.

If your answer is “just do more wall balls”…
you’re missing the point.

You don’t improve the test by repeating it.
You improve the qualities that drive it.

Here’s exactly how to build it 👇

⸻

1. CONTRAST (Strength → Power Transfer)
How:
3–5 heavy front/back squats (80–90%)
→ immediately into 3–5 explosive broad/depth jumps
Rest 2–3 min. Repeat 3–5 sets

What it builds:
Leg drive, rate of force production, pop out of the hole
= more efficient, less fatiguing reps on wall balls

⸻

2. COMPLEXES (Fatigue Resistance Under Load)
How:
Pick one implement (DB/KB/barbell)
Flow 4–6 movements without putting it down (6–8 reps each)
Example: DB clean → front squat → push press → reverse lunge
Rest 90–120 sec. Repeat 3–4 rounds

What it builds:
Local muscular endurance, breathing under load, grip + mental tolerance
= ability to hold bigger unbroken wall ball sets

⸻

3. CONSTANT TENSION (No Escape Work)
How:
Choose a squat or thruster pattern
Tempo: 2020 (2 sec down / no pause / 2 sec up)
Work continuously for 60–90 seconds

What it builds:
Time under tension, lactate tolerance, positional strength
= staying composed deep into high-rep wall ball sets

⸻

Wall balls break down when:
→ your legs can’t produce force
→ your breathing spikes
→ your mind checks out

Train those. Not just the movement.

This is how you go unbroken when it matters.

FunctionalFitness StrengthAndConditioning ExplosivePower EnduranceTraining RecessPerformance

Member Spotlight: Samantha Yanks

Sam spends her days telling the stories of this community. 📰

Over the past few years, she’s been writing a powerful one of her own.

Strength isn’t just built with weights.
It’s built through consistency.
Through showing up.
Through choosing yourself — even when life is busy.

We’ve had the privilege of watching Sam transform, mentally and physically.

Stronger in body.
Stronger in mindset.
More confident with every step forward.

For Sam, Recess is her happy place — a space to unplug, refocus, and challenge herself in ways that carry far beyond the gym. ✨

We’re incredibly proud of the work she’s put in and grateful she’s part of this community.

Because real transformation starts with one simple decision:

Keep showing up.

It starts with a workout.

Then something else happens.

Training partners become friends.
Friends push each other further.
And everyone gets better together.

We built this place for moments like this.

Tag your workout partner. 🔥

strengthandconditioning conditioningworkout partnerworkout trainhard trainwithpurpose fitnesscommunity fitcommunity strongertogether communityfitness sweattogether gymmotivation workoutmotivation fitnesslifestyle grouptraining boutiquefitness neverstopplaying playgroundsareprovinggrounds recessfit westportct connecticutfitness

Didn’t follow the playbook.
Rewrote it.

Coaching > classes.
Community > crowds.

Welcome to Recess.